Platform cover roughening and grading machine



Dec. 20, 1949 L. F. EXLEY PLATFORM COVER AOUGHENING AND GRADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 23, 1947 INVENTOR F ifl Dec. 20, 1949 L. EXLEY P LATFORM COVER ROUGHENING AND GRADING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [MA 0 km W mm-Q L. IF. EXLEY Dec. 20, 1949 PLATFORM COVER ROUGHENING AND GRADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 23, 1947 Dec. 20, 1949 L. F. EXLEY PLATFORM COVER ROUGHENING AND GRADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 25, 1947 m ur INVENTOR ATTORNEYSI L. F. EXLEY Dec. 20, 1949- PLATFORM COVER ROUGHENING AND GRADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 23, 1947 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 20, 1949 PLATFORM COVER ROUGHENING AND GRADING MACHINE Leo F. Exley, Johnson City, N. Y., assignor to Endicott Johnson Corporation, Endicott, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application J une 23, 1947, Serial No. 756,571

Claims. (01. 69-4) This invention is a novel machine for roughening and grading strip material, particularly the portions thereof, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a machine for roughening and grading the side portions of strip stock, such as the skin side of leather, or similar material, used as side covers for platform soles.

' Roughening the surface of such material has heretofore been the accepted standard practice, the margins of said platform covers being prepared by using grinding wheels, sand paper covered or glued set-up wheels or wire brushes, or by sanding by hand, using suitable abrasive papers or cloths, or by scraping or buffing, using a knife or buffer, it being necessary to roughen the surface to receive cement or similar adhesive agent so that the adhesive will adhere firmly thereto and to the parts of the shoe sole to which it is attached. It is important that the treated area must be definitely limited to straight lines so that no part of the roughened skin surface will be seen after the shoe is assembled. It is obvious that hand work has no place in quantity production, and, even with the use of power-driven agents, the work must be presented by hand, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain and maintain uniform margins consistently. Attempts have been made to alter existing (skiving) machines to adopt them to the operation required.

Such attempts have not been successful and at the present time all manufacturers of cemented shoes are performing the operation under discussion in some of the ways above enumerated.

My novel machine consists essentially of a suitable guide or entrance into which the operator inserts one end of the strip to be treated, whereupon feeding mechanism carries the strip over a particularly designed fixed surface cooperating with treating wheels which engage the strip and function while the strip is moving over the surface, and feedin mechanism carrying the finished work away from the treating wheels and discharging same.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine which will quickly, effectively, and economically clean and properly prepare the surface of any material or part to which cement is to be applied with the object of subsequently attaching such part to some other part which has been similarly treated and prepared.

Another and important object of my invention is to provide a device which may be quickly and easily adjusted and set so that a predetermined and limited area only of the strip may be treated,

and the line of demarcation between the original and treated surface will be'well defined, uniform and specifically, in this case, straight.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device having adjustments so that the treating wheels may be positioned and set in such. a way that any amount of material may be removed from the strip being treated. In my machine, as constructed, this particular adjustment permits a range of treatment from the minimum required to effect a satisfactory surface, to a maximum amount wherein the edges are thinned down to a condition comparable to work performed by the various skiving machines which are commonly used in the shoe manufacturing industry.

Skiving the edges of parts as practiced in the shoe industry consists in cutting or shaving the marginal portion of a part at an angle so that the margin tapers from full thickness at the beginning of the cut to a much thinner outer edge. The purpose of skiving edges is to facilitate such operations as folding the edge of the part on itself or the lapping and attaching to another part. Such tapering and thinning of the edges of platform covers is desirable and sometimes necessary in order that the lapped-over portion will better and more easily conform to the in-and-out curves which constitute the irregular outline of the platform, and in order that the lapped-over portion of the cover will lay flat and adhere closely to the platform without wrinkling or buckling. To insure intimate contact and a secure fastening and to provide good appearance in the finished shoe, both sides of the platform with its cover must be reasonably smooth, and such conditions cannot be obtained unless the edges of the cover strip are thinned to a known and uniform thickness.

Foreconomy in manufacturing, covers are usually cut from waste or scrap stock and so are bound to be of varying grades and thickness. However, regardless of such variations, my machine not only produces an ideal surface to receive cement, but also simultaneously and automatically thins the edges to a predetermined degree and so facilitates manipulation in applying the cover, and insure smooth surfaces of the finished platform.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims, the novel features of constructiomand novel combinations of parts, for-which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my novel roughening machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view, partly in section, of the right hand side of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing a portion of the treated leather strip.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 55:', Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the. stripreceiving slot and underlying parts.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section through the strip feeding block in way of the-brushes;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged front view, partly in section, showing the strip feeding. block and: its.- ad justments.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevation showing the brush shaft adjusting means.

The drawing shows two complete units which are substantially identicali. driven by one. motor through an interposed speedireducer; the? arrangement being for economy in: construction and operation, and: to permit treating by the: operator of two different widths. of stock. ordinarilyused to cover a platform sole; onewidth being: that used around the heel portion. of the platform which is. much thicker than the forepart of the plat.- form and: hence requires the-use: of. a wider'strip.

I will now describe the function. and action of the. various parts of. my machineand for purposes of description I. will consider only one: unit in thatboth are alike, and hence I. will use thesame reference numerals to designate: like parts on all views. of both units.

The machine preferably comprises. av beda plate I. of any desired shape, same being. preferably substantially rectangular. On or adjacent the center-linethereof,towards.the.rear end la (Fig. L) is. a prime mover, preferably an electric motor 2. having. foot brackets 2a (Fig. 2) secured. to base I by bolts. 3' (Fig. 2):, motor 2L having a shaft 2'b carrying. belt pulleys 4 and 5 (Fig. 1 at its rear end. and carrying a. coupling member 6 at. its front. end engaging a complementary coupling member I on. the shaft 8a of a speed-reducing mechanism B having opposeddriven shafts 8b and 8c extendingv at right. angles to the shaft 8a (Fig.

I), said shafts carrying on their outer ends sprockets 8d; The couplings T and 8 may be of standard. type; and the. speed of motor 2 is materially lowered, by speed-reducer 8' to transmit a comparatively slow speed of rotation to sprockets 8d.

Parallel with the shafts Eli-80: of'speed reducer 8 are aligned shafts 9' at both sides of speed reducer 8, each shaft carrying a sprocket 9a on its inner end opposite its related sprocket 8d of speed reducer 8, a chain I'U' running around the pairs of sprockets 8'd-9a; Preferably sprockets lla are larger than sprockets 822 for the purpose of further're'du'cing the speed of the" shafts 9 with respect to the motor 2. Each shaft" 9 is journaled in brackets l-l mounted upon the base I, said brackets ll also carrying journals for shafts 12 which are spacedfrom but parallel. with the shafts 9, as shown in Fig. 1. Onv the outer ends of each pair of shafts 9-- H are sprockets 9c and respectively, around which run chains I33 whereby the shafts. 9 and t2 are rotated in the same direction. and at the. same speed by the speed: reducer shafts 8b." and 86 respectively.

On each: pair of shafts 9 and. i2? adjacent the centers thereof are aligned feed-l wheels I4. and

l5 respectively (Fig. 3) having their peripheries slightly spaced apart, said feed wheels being of same size as shown, and being obviously rotated in the same direction, i. e., in the direction of the arrows I 4a and [5a (Fig. 3) for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Associated with each pair of feed wheels l4 15 is aguide l6 consisting of a base block lfia of length sufiicient to embrace the wheels l il5 and to extend to the point adjacent the front end. I12 of. base. plate I, said block I6a being held inposition by means of screws or bolts H, as shown. Block Ifia is of height substantially equal torthe distance of the: axes of shafts 9 above base I (Fig: 3 and each block 16a has a rectangular axialslbt' l fib' (Fig. 2) in its upper face extending to points adjacent the sides thereof.

Upon each block l6a is a head block Hic (Fig. 2*)" having a tongue lfid at its lower end of less width than the slot I62) of base block Ita, the sides: of the: tongue 16d being engaged by screws I28: tapped through: bores in the sides of the base block r60; opposite: the slot ltd whereby adjustment of; the screws I8 will permit the head block its to be shifted laterally of the base block l6a within thelimits of the-slot Hid. Head block I60 is of somewhat less height than the upper peripheries: of thefeed wheels l4 -l5r, and one side of the upper portion of head block is cut away as at lt-efor the reception of an adjusting block. [5 (Fig. 1) having its upper face terminating in the plane of. the upper face of head block. lfic; and. a thumbscrew I9; extends through the: adjusting block I67,- and into the upper por tion ofihead block. Mic so that the adjusting block "if may be shifted laterally on the head block lfic by adjustment of screw' l9.

Seating,v upon the upper faces of the adjusting block. if and head block I60 is a. plate I69 having a thickened edge portion lifih seating upon the top of the head block. [6c and. secured thereto by means of screws 20 (-Fig. 1). The. opposite edge of the cover plate l-(io seats upon a raised outer edge portion 167s of. the adjusting block if and is secured thereto by screws 21 passing through slots in the plate [69 and intothe edge portion By the above construction a strip-receiving slot 1.61: is provided between. the tops of the head block I60 and adjusting block [6 and the under side of the cover plate 16g, as shown in Fig. 2, said slot being disposed. slightly below the upper peripheries of the feed wheels. l-4--I 5. Blocks Mia and. [6c and plate [6g are cutaway as at ltm (Fig. 31) in way of the Wheels. l4-l,5, leaving openings at. the topv of the. guide It through which the wheels. i l-l5 slightly project so as to engage the strip S (Figs. 2, 4, 5)- which is fed thereover through the slot lGrc in. the guide It. As shown, they plate [6g is provided. with a centrally-disposed. slot in at its front. end to facilitate entry of'the strip S into the slot I690.

By the above construction the position of the slot. lfizc laterally with, respect to the feed wheels ilk-l5 may be varied. by manipulating the screws [8. Also, the width. of the slot. i654: may be varied by manipulating the screws [9.

Cooperating. with the front feed. wheel [4 is a pressure wheel 22 mounted on a shaft 23 disposed directly above thev shaft. 9', said shaft 23 being mounted in the same brackets H in which shaft 9) is journaled, the bearings for shaft 23 being carried. in blocks 24' (Fig. 3 vertically adjustably mounted in the brackets H, the vertical position of the blocks 24 being regulated byscrews 25 and 22 may be nicely regulated.

Aligned with the feed wheels I i-l5 adjacent the rear end la. of the base i at opposite sides of the motor 2 are brackets El (Fig. 3) secured by bolts 23 to the base is, each bracket carrying spaced journals Bid for substantially parallel shafts 29 disposed at opposite sides of the feed Wheels i i-15, said shafts 29 carrying intermeshing gears til-38 on their inner ends, the inner shafts 29 also carrying belt pulleys 32 opposite the pulleys i and 5 respectively on the shaft of motor 2; and belts 33 run around the respective pairs of pulleys 32-l and 532.

Bearings 21 are of a self-aligning type so as to permit the angularity of shafts 29 to vary slightly from their truly parallel relation without disengaging the intermeshing gears till-3|. The forward ends of shafts 29 are mounted in bearings t l respectively, which are adjustable vertically and laterally of the feed Wheels Ml5,

the bearings 35 for the shafts 29 being also of the self-aligning type so as to prevent binding of the shafts 253 in their bearings 3d and 21a when the angularity of the shafts 29 of the pairs become shifted from a truly parallel relation. As shown in Fig. 3, the shafts 2t slope downwardly and forwardly in their bearings 21a and 34 respectively and carry on their front ends circular wire brushes 35 (Figs. 2 and 3).

The bearings 34 are carried by arms 34a, more particularly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which arms slope upwardly and outwardly adjacent the brackets H and overlie substantially correspondingly inclined portions l to: of the brackets I I, the upper ends of the inclined portions Hr of the brackets l 5 having upwardly flanged ends 5 lg, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2.

Between the under sides of the arms Sta and the upper faces of the inclined portions ilrc of brackets ii are wedge-shaped members 36 (Fig. 2) which may be shifted axially of the surfaces l is: by adjusting screws 3i anchored in the upper ends of the wedges 36 and threaded into bores in the flanged ends My of the brackets, said screws being provided with lock nuts 38 (Fig. 2) Thus, when the lock nuts as are loosened, the

wedges 36 may be shifted axially of surfaces Ila:

by manipulation of the screw ill to raise or lower the bearings 34 with respect to the base i.

The arms t le are provided with axial slots 34?) (Fig. 2) through which extend centering bolts 39 (Fig. 2) which are anchored in the inclined surfaces l Ix to maintain the arms 34a aligned on the surfaces l lac in all positions of adjustment of the arms Si la there-on. The upper ends of arms B ia are flanged upwardly as at 340 (Fig. 2) parallel with the flanges lip, and adjusting screws are anchored in the flanges 34c and pass through tapped bores in the flanges I ly, and are provided with lock nuts ii, whereby when the lock nuts ii are loosened, and the screws 4!! rotated, the arms 34a. Will be shifted axially of the surfaces l lac.

the above construction, the wire brushes which are disposed adjacent both sides of the guide it, may be raised or lowered with respect to the base or shifted inwardly or outwardly with respect to the axes of the guide, for the purpose hereinafter explained, by merely adjusting the thumb screws fill-60, and such adjustments, by

reason of the self-aligning bearings 21a and 34,

,- equipment such as joints, couplings,

will not cause binding of the shafts 29 in their bearings.

As shown in Fig. 2, both sides of the guide [6 at its end in way of the brushes 35 are formed as arcs I611 of circles whose centers are substantially the axes of rotation of the circular brushes 35, and as shown in Fig. 2, when the strip S is inserted in the slot Him, the sides of the strip S will be deflected downwardly by the brushes 35 so as to lie upon the arcuate surface lfiy so that their marginal portions will be roughened by the wire brushes 35, the roughened portions at the sides of the strip S being denoted in Fig. 4 by the reference character S while the central portion S2 remains unroughened. The extent of the roughening of the'sides of the strip S depends upon the adjustment of the adjusting block I6 on the head block through manipulation of the thumb screws l9.

In order to assist proper feeding of the strip, a pressure roller 42 (Fig. 3) is arranged over the rear feed wheel l5, said roller 42 being journaled in pivoted arms 43 connected to a bracket 44 attached to the bearing bracket 2'! between the journals 21a; and a flat spring 45 is secured to the bracket 44 and normally urges the arms 43 downwardly into yieldable contact with feed roller i5 so that the pressure roller 42 will assist in passing the roughened strip S out of the machine. The wheels 22 and 42 may if desired be power driven, but as shown are mere idlers.

The wire brush Wheels 35 are of standard type, and the respective shafts 29 of each set, by reason of the intermeshing gears 30-3I, rotate in opposite directions, 1. e. in the direction of the arrows 35a (Fig. 2) so as to force the edges of the strip S in the guide I6 down upon the arcuate surfaces i611 thereof.

The bearings 21a and 34 are of a standard selfaligning type so as to function properly even though the shafts are not in alignment, 1. e. at right angles to the outer faces of the bearings. The self-aligning feature of the bearings allows for the required shifting of shafts 29 into different positions in adjusting the brushes for various conditions of treatment of the edges of the strip S.

It is obvious that the maximum movement of the brushes 35 required for adjusting would be less than the thickness of the strip S being processed, in fact the range of movement is so little that the bearings Z'la and 34, the gears 303I, the pulleys 32 and the driving belts 33 all function properly and there is no need of special pivots, etc, to compensate for the fact that the shafts 29 will under some circumstances diverge from exact parallel relationship.

The guides It provide slots la: or passage from the front N5 of the base (nearest the operator) to a point immediately in front of the feed. wheels l4 and I5. By means of adjusting screws IS the width of the slot lac may be altered and varied so as to accommodate and accurately guide and direct to the feed rolls Hl-l5 any width of strip S. Ordinarily the guide slot Inc is located centrally in relation to the feed wheel's l4!5 and the strip stock S treated has an equal area or margin of toughening S along each edge. There are however conditions which require a strip S having a wider margin of treatment on one edge S than on the opposite edge, and for this purpose I have also provided means, i. e., screws I8 for moving the guide slot Ix to either the right or the left of the center line of the feed. wheels -15, fixing the guide slot is: in position to produce a strip S having any degree of variation or margin required.

The arcuate portions 4611 of the guide I6 are of a radius greater than the radius of the wire brush wheels 35 by approximately the average thickness of the stock S used for the platform covers. This relation of the radius of the brush wheels and the arcuate portions [6y of the guide is important, in that it permits the proper roughening of the surface of thin stock without removing any substance.

In operation, the operator inserts the strip S in the slot I'm in the guide 16 and pushes it forward (away from him) until it enters between the :feed wheels l4 and 22. At this point the strip -:S,, brought in contact with the brush wheels 35 which drag the unsupported edges downward against the arcuate sides [6y of the guide, scratch and roughen the surface of the strip S progressively as at S" as it is pulled along by the feed wheels i4 and I5. As the strip S progresses along the guide 16 it is engaged by the feed wheels i and 42 which pull the strip S at the same rate, and so when a strip is entered for treatment it progresses through the machine at a constant stead rate without interruption or need of attention until, when completed, it is discharged at the back of the machine.

My machine :does not require any skill or particular dexterity on the part of the operator. The operator .has only to feed the strips S through the strip receiving slot Him and to pick up and stack the completed work, discharged at the back. Adjustments are simple and easy to operate and obvious in .nature, and once set require no further attention. The work produced is uniform, and loss is substantially eliminated.

Each guide 16 is obviously interchangeable with other sizes :or widths of guides as required. The adjustment and positioning of the wire brush wheels 35 is accomplished by the manipulation of the adjusting screws 3'! and 49. The screws 40 move the wheels 35 inwardly and outwardly in relation to the arcuate surfaces Ifiy of the guide l6, and the screws 31 operate the wedges 36 which raise and lower the wheels 35.

This combination of in-and-out, and up-anddown movement of the wheels 35 enables the operator to adjust and position the wheels independently, and thus meet any and every possible requirement.

.1 do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the .claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for roughening the side portions of strip material comprising a base; a prime mover mounted thereon; parallel shafts journaled on the base and driven by the prime mover in the same direction; aligned feed wheels on the parallel shafts rotating at the same peripheral speed; pressure means on the base above and cooperating with the respective feed wheels; a guide aligned with the feed wheels for directing the strip material between the feed and pressure means, said guide having arcuate portions extending downwardly and outwardly from its opposite upper side edges; rotary brushes at opposite sides of the guide and having their axes disposed substantially coaxially of the arcuate portions and their peripheries lying closely adjacent the respective arcuate portions; means for rotating the brushes in directions to .flex the side edge portions of the strip material in the guide downwardly upon the arcuate side portions of the guide; means for raising and lowering the brushes with respect to the arcuate portions of the guide; and means for shifting the brushes towards or from the said arcuate portions.

In a machine as set forth in claim 1, a pair of brush shafts at opposite sides of the guide carrying at one end said rotary brushes respectively, a bracket mounted on the base carrying self-aligning bearings for the opposite ends of the brush shafts; means for rotating the brush shafts by the prime mover; other brackets at opposite sides of the guide mounted on the base adjacent the brush ends of the brush shafts having surfaces sloping downwardly towards the guide; and plates on said surfaces carrying selfaligning bearings for the brush ends of the brush shafts.

3. In a machine as set forth in claim 2, said means for rotating the brush shafts comprising interrneshing gears on said opposite ends of the brush shafts; a pulley on one shaft disposed opposite a second pulley on the prime mover shaft; and a belt running around said first and second pulleys respectively.

4. In a machine as set forth in claim 2, said means for raising and lowering the brushes comprising wedge-shaped blocks interposed between the plates and inclined bracket surfaces; and screws anchored in the wedges and passing through threaded bores in the brackets for shiftin; the wedges toward and from the guide.

5. In a machine as set forth in claim 2, said means for shifting the rotary brushes towards or from the arcuate portions of the guides comprising screws anchored in the plates and passing through tapped bores in the brackets, for shifting the related bearings of the brush shafts towards or from the guide.

6. A machine for roughening the side portions of strip material, comprising a base; a prime mover mounted thereon; parallel shafts journaled on the base and driven by the prime mover in the same direction; aligned feed wheels on the parallel shafts rotating at the same peripheral speed; pressure wheels journaled on the base above and cooperating with the respective feed wheels; a guide aligned with the feed wheels having a strip receiving slot for directing the strip material between the feed and pressure wheels, said guide having arcuate portions extending downwardly and outwardly from its opposite upper side edges; means for shifting the guide laterally'of the aligned feed wheels; means for adjusting the width of the guide slot; rotary brushes at opposite sides of the guide having their axes disposed substantially coaxially of the arcuate portions and their peripheries lying closely adjacent the respective arcuate portions of the guides; means for rotating the brushes in directions to flex the side edge portions of the strip material in the guide downwardly upon the arcuate side portions of the guide; means for raising and lowering the brushes with respect to the arcuate portions of the guide; and means for shifting the brushes towards or from the said arcuate portions of the guide.

'7. In a machine as set forth in claim 6, a pair of brackets having journals for the parallel shafts, and carrying vertically movable journal blocks for the leading pressure wheel disposed above the front feed wheel; means for adjusting the position of said blocks; and a spring pressed frame "carrying the trailing pressure wheel disposed above the rear feed wheel.

8. In a machine as set forth in claim 6, said guide comprising avbase block mounted on the base and having a slot in its upper face; a head block upon said base block having a tongue entering the slot of less width than the slot; said head block having a recess in one upper corner; an adjusting block in said recess of less Width than the recess and having its upper face disposed in the plane of the upper face of the head block; means for securing said blocks together; and a cover plate mounted on the head block and adjusting block and having a central portion spaced from the upper faces of the head block and adjusting block and defining the strip receiving slot. 9. In a machine as set forth in claim 8, said means for shifting the guide laterally comprising opposed screws passing through threaded bores in the sides of the base block entering the slot and engaging the sides of the tongue of the head block; and said means for adjusting the width of the guide slot comprising screws passing through threaded bores in the sides of the adjusting block and having their inner ends anchored in the head block in way of the recess; said adjusting block having a raised outer edge portion slidably engaging the under side of the cover plate, said raised edge portion forming one side wall of the guide slot.

10. In a machine as set forth in claim 6, said guide comprising a base block mounted on the base and having a slot in its upper face; a head block provided with said strip receiving guide slot and mounted upon said base block and having a tongue entering the slot of less width than the slot; and said means for shifting the guide laterally comprising opposed screws passing through threaded bores in the sides of the base block entering the slot and engaging the sides of the tongue of the head block.

11. In a machine as set forth in claim 6, said guide comprising a block mounted on the base and having a recess in one upper corner; an adjusting block in said recess of less width than the recess and having its upper face disposed in the plane of the upper face of the first block; a cover plate mounted on the first block and adjusting block and having its central portion spaced from the upper faces of the first block and adjusting block and defining the strip receiving guide slot, and said means for adjusting the width of the guide slot comprising screws passing through threaded bores in the sides of the adjusting block and having their inner ends anchored in the first block in way of the recess; and said adjusting block having a raised outer edge portion slidably engaging the under side of the cover plate, said raised edge portion forming one side wall of the guide slot.

12. A machine for roughening the side portions of strip leather side covers for platform soles, comprising a base; a prime mover mounted on the base; a speed reducing mechanism operated by the prime mover and having opposed driven shafts; pairs of parallel shafts journaled on the base at opposite sides of the speed reducing mechanism respectively and driven by the respective opposed driven shafts in the same direction; aligned leading and following feed wheels on the respective pairs of shafts rotating at the same peripheral speed; aligned leading and following pressure wheels journaled on the base above and cooperating with the feed wheels respectively; guides aligned with the aligned feed wheels respectively having strip receiving slots for directing the strips between the feed wheels and pressure wheels, said guides having opposed arcuate portions extending downwardly and outwardly from their upper side edges; means for shifting the guides laterally of the aligned feed wheels; means for adjusting thewidth of the guide slots;

rotary brushes at opposite sides of the guides having their axes disposed substantially coaxially of the arcuate portions of the guides, the peripheries of the brushes lying closely adjacent the arcuate portions of the guides; means for rotating the brushes in directions to flex the side edges of the strip material in the guides downwardly upon the arcuate side portions of the guides; means for raising and lowering the brushes with respect to the arcuate port-ions of the guides; and means for shifting the brushes towards or from the said arcuate portions of the guides.

13. In a machine as set forth in claim 12, pairs of brackets having journals for the related pairs of shafts and carrying vertically movable journal blocks for the leading pressure wheels disposed above the leading feed wheels; means for adjusting the position of said blocks; and spring pressed frames carrying the trailing pressure wheels disposed above the following feed wheels.

14. In a machine as set forth in claim 12, each guide comprising a base block mounted on the base; and having a slot in its upper face; a head block upon said base block having a tongue entering the slot and of less width than the slot; said head block having a recess in one upper corner; an adjusting block in said recess of less width than the recess and having its upper face disposed in the plane of the upper face of the head block; means for securing said blocks together; and a cover plate mounted on the head block and adjusting block and having its central portion spaced from the upper faces of the head block and adjusting block and defining the strip receiving slot.

15. In a machine as set forth in claim 14, and said means for shifting each guide laterally comprising opposed screws passing through threaded bores in the sides of the base block entering the slot and engaging the sides of the tongue of the head block.

16. In a machine as set forth in claim 14, and said means for adjusting the width of the guide slot comprising screws passing through threaded bores in the sides of the adjusting block and having their inner ends anchored in the head block in way of the recess; said adjusting block having a raised outer edge portion slidably engaging the under side of the cover plate, said raised edge portion forming one side wall of the guide slot.

17. A machine for roughening the side portions of strip leather side covers for platform soles, comprising a base; a prime mover mounted on the base; a speed reducing mechanism operated by the prime mover and having opposed driven shafts; pairs of parallel shafts journaled on the base at opposite sides of the speed reducing mechanism respectively and driven by the respective opposed driven shafts in the same direction; aligned leading and following feed wheels on the respective pairs of shafts rotating at the same peripheral speed; aligned leading and following pressure wheels journaled on the base above and cooperating with the feed wheels respectively; guides aligned with the aligned feed wheels respectively having strip receiving slots for direct- '1! ing the strips between the feed wheels and pressure wheels, said guides having opposed 'arcuate portions extending downwardly and outwardly "from their upper side edges; means for shifting the guides laterally of the aligned feed wheel's; means for adjusting the width of the guide slots; rotary brushes at opposite sides of the guides having their axes disposed substantially coaxially of the arcuate portions of the guides, the peripheries of the brushes lying closely adjacent the arcuate portions of the guides; means for rotating the brushes in directions to flax the side edges of the strip material in the guides downwardly upon the arcuate side portions of the guides; means for raising and lowering the brushes with respect to the arcuate portions of the guides; means for shifting the brushes towards or from the said arcuate portions of the guides, pairs of downwardly and inwardly inclined shafts at opposite sides of the guides carrying at their lower ends the pairs of rotary brushes respectively; brackets mounted on the base carrying pairs of self-aligning bearings for the upper ends of the pairs of inclined shafts; means for rotating the pairs of shafts "in opposite directions by the prime mover; =other brackets at opposite sides of the guides mounted on the base adjacent the lower ends of the inclined shafts having surfaces sloping down- '12 wardly towards the guides; and plates on said surfaces carrying self-aligning bearings for the lower ends of the inclined shafts.

18. In a machine as set forth :in claim 17., and said means for rotating the pairs of shafts comprising intermesh'ing gears on the upper ends of the pairs of inclined shafts; a pulley on one shaft of each pair disposed opposite a second pulley on the prime mover shaft; and belts running around said first and second pairs of pulleys respectively.

19. In a machine as set forth in claim 17-, and said means for raising and lowering the brushes comprising wedge-shaped blocks interposed between the plates and sloping bracket surfaces; and screws anchored in the wedges and passing through bores in the brackets for shifting the wedges toward and from the guides.

20. "In a machine as set forth in claim 1'7, and said means for shifting the brushes towards or from the arcuate portions of the guides comprising screws anchored "in the plates and passing through tapped bores on the brackets for shifting the lower bearings of the inclined shafts towards or from the guides.

No references cited. 

